Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, funded for the first time by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, represents a Presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable energy technologies we have – energy efficiency and conservation – across the country.

It is intended to develop, promote, implement, and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs designed to:

Reduce Fossil Fuel Emissions;

Reduce the total energy use of eligible entities;

Improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building and other appropriate sectors;

Create and retain jobs.

On November 10, 2009, the City of Sioux Falls was awarded $1,513,600 in Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant funding.

In anticipation of this grant, McKinstry, a design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) firm completed an energy audit of 35 city facilities in July of 2009. The audit report summarized the site visit findings, energy consumption overview of the facilities and identification and analysis of energy conservation measures.

Upon receipt of the grant and audit report, an internal team of managers assembled to rank order projects that would provide the greatest amount of economic and CO2 savings.

The highest priority projects were presented before the Capital Improvement Plan committee for approval. Once approved, Engineering Project Managers were assigned and work was initiated.

Fire Station #1 Replace aging boiler with new high efficient hot water boiler

Light and Power Facility Add Destratification Fans to High Bay Areas

City Hall HVAC Improvements

Old City Hall boiler.

New City Hall boiler installation.

New LED traffic signal in use.

Old incandescent (left) vs. new LED (right) traffic light.

Savings information on LED signal conversions:

241 Intersections have been converted. Depending on usage, LED signals have a life expectancy of a decade, while incandescent signals only last between one to two years.

A sample intersection (12th Street and Westport Avenue) operated at an average power cost of $180.15 per month prior to conversion. After conversion to LED lights, the average monthly cost has dropped to $26.32, saving an average of $153.83 per month (85%). At this level of savings, it is expected to recover the cost of the new lights, plus installation labor in approximately 24 to 30 months.

Additional savings in addition to power savings will be the reduction of labor required to change signals at end of life with the extended life expectancy of the LED signals (between 4-9 fewer changes needed than incandescent over the expected 10 year lifespan of the LEDs)

All EECBG funds must be spent by November 4, 2012. The City of Sioux Falls is scheduled to complete this project on time and on budget.

Public Works Engineering Division project managers oversee the daily operation and contracts of facility improvements. After receiving reports from the engineering division, the Sustainability Program generates a quarterly report to the Department of Energy on the grant's progress

Regular progress updates on the grant expenditures and milestones of other stimulus projects can be found at the city’s stimulus funding web page: